For decades, the importance of the fine arts in children’s education went without question. In recent years, however, the trend has been towards scaling these types of programs back due to budget constraints. This does our children a disservice, however, as more and more studies show the connections between the arts and valuable aspects of a child’s development.

Creative Thinking

While this might seem obvious, you should never underestimate how important it is for children to develop their creative thinking and problem solving skills early on. Fostering a creative environment ensures students grow up to be more self disciplined, able to think outside of the box, and avoid stereotypes. Creative thinking is something which is also highly sought after when it comes to hiring for many positions.

Improved Motor Skills

Learning a musical instrument or taking part in the visual arts at a young age can have a profound impact on your child’s development of fine motor skills. Regular training in the performing arts can have a radical impact on the brain’s development, allowing motor skills to be transferred to other areas as well.

Perseverence

Learning how to express one’s self artistically isn’t just fun, but can be exceptionally challenging. Learning to master a musical instrument or learning to paint a portrait can be incredibly frustrating, and finding the will to persevere and not give up is an experience which can be highly influential for many students. The focused attention required to learn a specific art form has also been been shown to positively effect the brain’s ability to focus on tasks in general.

Improvements In Academics

Fine arts education doesn’t just improve students’ artistic and creative thinking skills, but also offers significant benefits to other areas of academics as well. Studies continue to demonstrate correlation between musical education and achievement in math. The visual arts, such as drawing and painting, offers many benefits to students in terms of visual-spatial skills. Some data also points to higher test scores, attendance, and graduation rates, as well as fewer cases of disciplinary infractions.

Collaboration

Many of the arts, such as theater, band or choir, rely on collaboration between students. This is an essential skill for kids to learn early on, as the value of working with others towards a common goal without necessarily having a solo or lead role is something they will take with them into the workplace and other areas of their lives.

Every living creature needs to sleep. It presents primary activity of the brain during early development of any organism. Sleep deprivation may have a great negative effect at any age and good night sleep is of critical importance especially during childhood. Also, certain cognitive functions of the brain may not be working effectively as they should if there is not enough sleep in this critical period of development.

Many studies came to results which say that irregular bedtimes at the age from 0 to 3 years old will have a negative effect on math skills, reading skills and spatial awareness. We may say that sleep is of the same importance as food, regarding its role in developing and proper functioning of the brain in future.

Sleep effect on brain development

Good sleep increases development of brain circuits known as synapses and also brain tissue. First, three years of life are most crucial for these brain changes. In fact, this is one of the main reasons that children recover much faster from head traumas than adults. This strong relationship between brain development and sleeping is called neuroplasticity.

Sleep effects on health

We all know poor sleep is connected to diabetes, heart disease risks, and high obesity, especially among children. Children with enough sleep have lower vascular damage risks. Also, some sleeping disorders within the children bring problems like elevated cortisol and glucose levels. Numerous everyday research studies warn people about this neglected and quiet, dangerous situation.

Sleep effects on learning capability

Those baby twitching seen within newborns is testing of the nervous system about connections between the brain and muscles. The brain of an infant is very busy throughout the night.

Many study types of research say that newborns are usually learning in their sleep and that kids with more amount of naps remember more.

Sleep affects growth

Most effective secretion of the growth hormone happens during deep sleep. Outnumbering studies show and confirm a relationship between deficient levels of the growth hormone and poor sleep.

So, according to above facts, it is of primary importance that internal clock of the children synchronizes with uninterrupted and sufficient sleep. There are many other reasons to take care of this like for example weight loss, reducing injury risks, increasing alertness which should make any parent understand child’s sleeping needs more seriously.

Helping your child get enough sleep

Checking on your little children with monitor may help you determine any issues child is going through while sleeping. With older kids, it is important to talk about their sleeping experience to solve any existing problem. Regular sleeping routine, bedtime reading and creating good sleep environment should help them stay asleep.

Moving is a stressful event for the entire family. It is a challenge for everyone. Transitions are difficult for children, and some can be vulnerable at this period. So creating a smooth transition into school should be a good start in their new environment. Parents and children are not only people involved in the transition process. There are also teachers, teaching assistants and practitioners which make the whole situation more complex. There are some steps which can make it all much easier for all included in the process, especially kids.

It is really difficult for a child to adjust to new school in the middle of the school year. If it is possible in any way to try to schedule the move during the summer so children can start the new school year as everybody in new school.

New school

Visiting new school together with your child in advance could be of great help. If your child is in grade or middle school, it could be of great help for them. To meet new teacher, classroom, getting a schedule of the classes and locating each class. If you have high school children, this all may not be necessary but be prepared to be of any needed assistance.

If there is a possibility in a new neighborhood for connecting your child to a friend who will be in their class or school it would be convenient. A familiar face on the first day of school is really helpful.

Parents usually make a big mistake when not talking about the transition and move with their children. They feel that the holding off children to know anything about the significant move will save them from unneeded stress. Amount of talk and information should be appropriate to the age of children but it will always have same results, it will reduce the adjusting of children to the idea of moving and preparing for the transition.

Check out in advance

More thoroughly interesting areas, local restaurants, stores and some other hot spots. That could develop more interest to them for a new place. Spread their horizons at the very beginning which will get their attention of the “worries” they created in their heads.

Children stay connected to their old friend so let them know. They will be able to see their friends from old school any time possible. Scheduling some sleep overs, creating some hanging outs together with new friends from new school will for sure make it easier for them in first few weeks of going to new school.

All these steps have different impact levels depending on unique child’s behavior and personality. So it is very important to listen and talk to your children which will help both sides in making all moving conditions suitable for the success of children and parents.

A confident child needs to develop a realistic and positive perception of her or his abilities. Encouraging words will help develop this, especially when you refer to your child’s specific efforts and achievements, no matter how small or great they are. It is not only matter of surviving they need the confidence to thrive. Yes, failure is good for kids also as mistakes are. But it is important to remember that too many failures could make them learn that they are failures.

So for this not to happen it is important to give them a lot of emotional support and at least some experience of success. Also, this needs a careful approach because the line between “helicoptering’ and appropriate support is rarely clear. Also, every kid is a unique individual, so the approach has to be the same. With the right amount of support and protection, kids have to be let free in managing their lives and overcoming obstacles to meet their goals. This is a basic formula for them to develop confidence and here are some basic steps to keep that formula works.

(I’m)perfection

Unless the outcome isn’t vitally important, task your children need to do doesn’t have to be under the constant temptation of improving. This will undermine their confidence and stop learning it for themselves. Help them set realistic goals and reasonable enough to avoid feelings of failure.

Coaching not controlling

Flourishing and developing is something coach does on the field so the parent should be doing it at home. Do the thing WITH them and not FOR them, so they get an opportunity to become competent and self-capable.

Effort focusing

For any hard work or perseverance give them positive feedback. Keep them trying, improving, practicing and to learn the fact when they work hard they achieve their goals. Remember that product is never the point. Steps to do every time good or even better if possible are important, and that will learn them to accept setbacks as normal part of life that can be managed.

Rules and consistency

It is maybe hard to believe, but when children know who is in charge, they are more confident. Being clear what is important for the whole family is one of the great relationship foundations how for children also for parents.

By learning and following rules, their sense of confidence and security will work for them even better when they get older.

Support and encourage

When children accomplish something in their rising pursuits, give them positive support. As long it doesn’t influence badly on their health, behavior or schoolwork let them manage their passion themselves. Encouraging, for example especially in physical activities they learn in a great way to recognize their strengths, accept weaknesses and handle defeat while expanding the circle of friends. Staying fit and learning to respect your body is a real confidence booster.